YOUNG MARINES ESPRIT Online 35 By YM/Pvt Christain Naugler Mountain View (CO) A significant motive for me to become a Young Marine was the fact that my parents, my grand- mother and grandfather all proudly served in the military. It was also appealing to me because it was meant for kids like myself who want the Young Marines experience. One of the biggest draws for me was the com- munity service that the Young Marines take part in. I feel a need to help the community. I know that Young Marines will help me realize that my choices affect everyone around me. Growing up hearing about my families mili- tary lives was a huge motivator for me. Most of my inspiration came from my mom and dad. Some of the stories that my dad told me were exciting, especially when he talks about the cool ports of call; Hong Kong, Singapore, Dubai, Hawaii, Bahamas, Sidney, Iceland, Whidbey Island, Kuwait…just to name some of them. Having a mom who served as a Marine is pretty inspiring too! The next reason I joined was to be a part of a group that would help the community. I had a hard time find- ing a program that interested me. When I went to the meeting with my parents I knew that Young Marines was what I wanted to do. Being part of the Young Ma- rines will make me a better person. I am working to learn the importance of a good attitude and teamwork. From the first day of my recruit training, I saw firsthand that the action of one can mess everyone up... or, help everyone out. I know I’ve made the right choice joining the Young Marines. I have already been pushed to my limits and know that I would not accomplish this goal of becoming a Young Marine without the other recruits and staff pushing me. I have improved on my discipline and set goals.The effect that the Young Marines has had on me is one that I will forever remember, and it’s only starting! “I’ve Made the Right Choice Joining the Young Marines” PT instruction with UC Waters. By YM/1stSgt Aidan Yeung Southeast County (CA) I interviewed Zim Walker, a volunteer with the First Presby- terian Church of Fullerton (CA). Over the course of seven years (during Easter),Mr.Walker goes to Mexico with the youth group to help build homes for the local population.He explained that all of the people assisted by the church are economically dis- advantaged. He further explained that in Mexico, an individual must first save up to buy a plot of land and then develop it over the course of two years. If the land was not developed, then the government reclaims the land. The following interview is an insight to his experiences: Q: What is it that you did in Mexico? A: We built houses for the locals and helped finish the founda- tion for their church. Q: What did you like about your experience? A: Being able to help those people who were already strug- gling in their personal situations. Q: Was there anything you disliked about your experience? A: It was disheartening to see the impoverished people that live in a much worse situation than you and I; also the fact that what we take for granted here, is something they may never experience. Q: What is one of the best moments that you had during your time there? A: One of my favorite moments there was the key ceremony, at which time we presented the families with the keys to their new home. Another one was when we were on our way to the ceremony and we witnessed a procession of someone portray- ing Jesus Christ carrying the cross through the streets while followers passed behind.The experience was very overwhelm- ing. Q: Besides building homes for various families, what other effects do you think both you as an individual and the church have had on the local community? A: Most of all, improving the quality of their lives. As we built homes for those families, we helped them prevent an outcome in which they would lose their land. Helping those people changes their lives and gives them an edge up in an already economically challenged situation. SCYM: An Interview with a Local Community Service Provider By YM/ PFC Daniel Porras West Texas (TX) Drugs are chemicals. Different drugs, because of their chemi- cal structures, can affect the body in different ways. In fact, some drugs can even change a person’s body and brain in ways that last long after the person has stopped taking drugs, some- times permanently. Drugs can enter the human body in a number of ways, includ- ing injection, inhalation, and ingestion. The method of how it enters the body impacts on how the drug affects the person. For example, injection takes the drug directly into the blood stream, providing more immediate effects, while ingestion re- quires the drug to pass through the digestive system, delaying the effects. Most abused drugs directly or indirectly target the brain’s reward system by flooding the circuit with dopamine. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter present in regions of the brain that regulate movement, emotion, cognition, motivation, and feelings of pleasure. When drugs enter the brain, they can ac- tually change how the brain performs its jobs. These changes are what lead to compulsive drug use, a hallmark of addiction. DDR: Learning About the Many Paths to Addictive Behavior